Mission MME-7: Carpe Noctem [Odango]

[❰ Misha ❱]

Post
"Blackbird" Emile Reivelt

In the middle of the daylight, there was a fervor of luxury making its way over the island. It was a celebration centered around the island's neutrality from the politics of the world, a national gathering of the wealthy and voluptuous that most distinguished this masquerade from all others. The sky was a little dank and grey, but it didn't seem to have an effect on the spirits of those underneath it. They just drowned out the monotony with happiness and toasts of wine and beer.

When Emile first arrived on the island, he had made it a point to ham it up as much as possible. He donned a rich noble's vest, a more iris-colored hue; fraught with golden, intricate lacing and fake-looking jewels. The design was obviously meant to convey nobility, but also a subtle nuance of being humble and not overly frivolous. Though Emile loved it, the color hadn't been his first choice. It was interesting and intriguing and the reception he received in his opinion was second to none. His hair was well-brushed and framed his face as usual to give him an extra spark of elegance. A little shy to behold at first glance, but it only made him seem more coy and alluring. His pants were black with thin white lines running the full length of the bottoms. At the foot of the dock, he joked casually with the harbormaster, at the expense of course of a nearby patron who had also disembarked and was out of earshot.

"It looks like his son dressed him while he was scrambling around in the dark." Emile chuckled and twisted his thumb in a theatrical way. The larger man holding a book hadn't thought much of the boy who was so far beneath him in stature, but his opinion was quick to change as they struck up a healthy conversation, "I wouldn't go so far as that--Wellington's son hasn't been in the best company as of late. He's smitten with the Ackermann girl down the road. I would guess she got his son drunk THAN dressed him up!"

The man laughed heartily while Emile let loose an earnest chuckle. He clapped his feet over the cobblestone, stepping round the harbormaster who waved him happily through. He smirked while walking away, all the more confident in his ability to pull off the ruse that he had been assigned. The rumor had been a very quiet one, almost like frail gossip that he was bound to dismiss if it hadn't been for the fact that the patron of the assignment decided to er on the side of caution. There were supposedly thieves afoot on this island and it was his job now to root them out. He had come to know that he wouldn't be alone on this assignment; there was another marine on this case with him who was a local of the island and more familiar with the island than he was and would give him more detail when they met up.

The rendezvous point had been set for a small, quaint little place where it wouldn't be seen as strange for them to meet. The orders were absolute: evade all suspicion at any cost to avoid the diplomatic storm, a fact that Emile had taken delight in razzing a few people over on the way there. His index finger cracked over the fore, his thoughts breezing by as he walked towards a bench on the opposite side of the square and began to just twiddle this thumbs while he waited.

It was exhilarating and exciting to be here! The fashion and displays of culture were just as he had imagined and now he could look upon in their fullest! He tried hard to contain his excitement, but it showed more and more as the smirk on his face had turned to split his cheek from ear to ear. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted a man passing by, garbed in a traditional black slim down pants and yukata that stood out among the rest of the people passing him by. He noticed it because the man also had a very matted beard. He went back to thinking and waiting after that, but the thought didn't vanish from his thoughts.

"Speech Here"

1

Note: Not my finest performance, but remember the names of the gossip people. I have a few ideas for them.

[odango]

*It looks like it might rain... I had expected it to be all very dramatic, as usual*



This thought rolled out in her head, as the sadly not surprised young woman made her way through a cobble stoned alleyway, slowly making her way towards one of the town squares. For her, it seemed the best idea to travel through the little streets and alleyways, thus avoiding the masses of people on the main streets. An island-wide celebration was taking place. While it might not be as festive in the other towns, Toroans usually saved no expense. Most buildings were partially covered by bright, festive banners. Tsubaki could hear music, different kinds of it, coming from various directions. While she often disliked a mix of genres blasting her from each direction, this version did not bother her too much, yet it might have been because of the familiarity of the situation.



The girl passed by the back door of a bakery – a small shop where she and a few girls from her music school had now and then stopped by before going home. The atmosphere in it had always been delightful, just like the name of the shop suggested – “Aunt Agata’s Bakery” only brought back positive memories of cinnamon buns, green tea mixed with honey, and carefree chatter amongst her and her friends. She remembered a lot of times when she laughed about the silliest jokes and all of them would at some point impersonate the quirks of their teachers. The recalled memories did force a chuckle out of the brown haired young woman. *Oh, right, Mrs. Smirnov was quite a sweetheart…* It was strange, this feeling of brief happiness did leave a more bitter aftertaste. Sadness crept in through the cracks and embracing the nostalgia, the hazel eyed noble picked up the pace, finally entering into the square where she was about to meet up with a Skypean comrade. The girl had just returned to Toroa and already she was starting to feel a weighing sensation in her gut. This only meant one thing – the time of meeting her family was not far off; while to some this would have been a very happy experience, to Tsubaki it was something she would rather avoid, just like all of her other problems. Her heart ached of not being able to meet her cousins for so long but she had also never felt more at peace as after leaving home.



*Now, where could he be? We do not usually see too many angels running around in this town, but it would be nice not to mix the person up with another. I hope we work together well… but what if he or she is a jerk? I’ll probably have to meet Juushiro so it would be a pain to have another thing to worry about.* Letting a deep sigh escape her lips, the girl entered into the square – the place she was supposed to meet her new companion. Glancing around in a very careful, yet subtle manner, she could only spot one individual who met the description she had received. Also, rarely any people just sat down with nothing to do with their hands yet seemed really bored, unless they were waiting for something.



*People with wings. I bet, godmother would love him. What is better to let everyone know your family is associated with people who look like heavenly beings. Then again, pigeons could be described as heavenly beings as well… the same as seagulls, or anything with wings, really, unless you look at it from a religious point of view. Right, I also have to make up some concerts that happened recently to tell her about. As I recall, mother never really told anyone that I joined the Marines. Well, since I am not a Vice Admiral yet, she wouldn’t view it as worthy. Perhaps, some day… thou I WOULD have rather gone to a Conservatoire, like I wanted to.* the girl trailed off in thought, while slowly closing the distance between her and Emile. It was true that her mother had told everyone that she actually went to a Conservatoire to study piano. The woman still felt ashamed about Tsubaki and was waiting for the opportunity to finally stick her professional merits into her sister’s face, assuming they were grand enough.



Shaking off the family-related thoughts, she finally came close to the Skypean. She stood at about five feet and nine inches and was blessed with an appealing hourglass figure. Tsubaki’s skin was frail and one was right to assume she was not able to get tan. Her clothing consisted of a emerald green, knee-length A-line with a notable golden pattern which was more strongly noticeable near the hem of the skirt. It looked like a mix of flowers and the silhouette-type print was gradually getting more visible at the bottom. With that, she had a pair of black shoes. They were not with a high heel, since she did have a bag with her. While better looking, the girl chose a more subtle choice and a comfortable one. She would be threading over cobblestone and with luggage.



Putting down her bag next to the bench and finally relaxing her arm, the girl sat down and gazed straight at the sitting angel. ”Excuse me, but may I know your name?” Perhaps, she should have gone at the conversation differently…

[❰ Misha ❱]

Post
"Blackbird" Emile Reivelt

There was so much left up to the imagination and he would've wanted to get to know every detail had he the time to. What could be hiding in this place of high culture where the common man dared not travel and the Marines were forbidden from? Emile was giddy to find out, but his senses took hold and forced him to rein himself back in when he was approached. His hair bounced a little and the tapping and playing with his fingers ceased. The girl was about as tall as he was though appeared to be just a little more youthful in appearance.

The smirk that had split his features turned into an auteur smile, gazing upon her choice for an elegant outfit. In his eyes, it was fitting and maybe better suited to their purpose than his idea was. He couldn't tell if maybe he had gotten more than a little preoccupied with making himself look flashy, but the princess-like girl with the hourglass figure certainly seemed like she was well-adept for this mission. Crossing over the cobblestone with luggage in hand, she casually sat the luggage down beside the bench with the length of brown hair flapping behind her. They crossed eyes and at that time it seemed to him that she was the more relaxed in that moment.

For the first time in the last minute or so, he actually hadn't taken note of the weather or where she had come from initially. He had trailed off after getting on the island and even the harbormaster was busily tending to others while the man he had been critiquing earlier had vanished into the crowd. Caught a bit off-guard, Emile was quick to recover and took to responding in his own good-natured, un-serious manner without sounding too coy.

"I am Emile Reivelt. A pleasure to meet you, madam. I trust that you're going to be the one giving me the grand tour?" he tilted his head slightly while speaking.

His tone was made to sound low and beguiling, a single finger placed just beneath his chin and elbow propped over his lap. It wasn't meant to be patronizing, but perhaps there was a hint in his voice that he was playing around a bit. He laid back on the bench, arms outstretched over the bench after gently brushing off his lap a bit.

With the time that they had, there was much to be accomplished in the next few hours. While he was definitely looking forward to getting to know the island better, it was still comfortable being like this and so he didn't move or make any other attempt to move closer. His excitement was reined in for the moment and with it he was keen to act a bit more professional while still being jocular.

"May I also ask for your name in return? Also a quick question for you miss... where does the Blackbird fly around here?"

"Speech Here"

2

Note: Make something up.

[odango]

*That’s a pretty name. Emile… I don’t think I know any other person with such a name. There was an Emilio in one of my clubs, I think. Then again, it might be unrelated. I do wonder what the origin of that name is.*

For a moment she thought if any of her family members might have such a name. With the Taighanas it was traditional to use the name of one’s ancestors for the new generations. Her name was the same as the one her grandmother’s sister possessed, for example. While one might think that the pool of choices was this way limited, it was not true – they gained new additions with everyone, who married into the family. They could change the names, keeping the meaning but perhaps changing the form of the name from a linguistic aspect, so it matched the family name better. It was a strange tradition but Tsubaki did find charm in such an old ritual of the family. She could respect the idea of unifying the family this way.

The hazel eyed marine soldier had also taken a better look at Emile. While it was not an obvious stare, she had taken note of his body language and her brain was already working up a profile of how his personality might look. It was a quirk of hers. The brown haired noble could not help herself. Every time she met someone new, she kept trying to get into their shoes and see the world through their eyes. In fact, she was certain that, if this kind of thing could be monitored, it would be a clear violation of one’s personal space. Often times the young soldier felt herself acting quite rudely because of this habit. Another reason for this was her quickly decreasing interest in a person who she had found predictable after a short while. She still was polite, welcoming and kind to most people but she could feel indifference dripping into her tone more often than needed. Most people might not notice it. Tsubaki just felt guilty about it.

As for Emile, she couldn’t decide if he fit with the Marines or not. Right off the bat he displayed a playful air about him. To her it seemed he could be very confident, if the situation asked for it. However, he did not give off the air of a “soldier” type. While some might think his actions patronizing, she saw them as those of a man not finding it that hard to rebel against authorities, if hindered in reaching their goal. Perhaps, she was completely wrong. Maybe his personal agenda was strong? Most marines had them but some excelled in having deep-set reasons for joining. Usually these reasons were along the lines of seeking revenge or trying to better the world after a tragic event. He might also be one of the fame-seeking types. The chance of getting famous in the Marines was bigger than gaining fame through the arts, for example. *I can’t tell how arrogant he is, thou…*

This is what occupied her mind after the angel’s reply. In a moment, her facial features took upon themselves a warm smile and her gaze softened towards the dark haired boy. ”The pleasure is, of course, all mine. It’s not every day you get to meet an angel.” she said the last part with a playful hint to her polite tone. ”I would love to give you a tour. This town is beautiful this time of the year. There is a lot you can learn from its heritage. Also, you would be able to witness a lot of cultural events.” The way she spoke made it seem like she had a lot of passion for the place. The glint in her eyes did disappear soon. It looked like she remembered something that weighed heavy on her heart. Letting those hazel orbs of her shift their gaze to the side as her shoulders just slightly moved upward and forward – as if the micro movement suggested a retreating motion, the young woman spoke again: ”Sadly, there is not enough time…”

After a sigh, he asked for her name and a rather unusual question. The later was not code for something. At least, she did not know it. A bit taken aback, since she had indeed forgotten to introduce herself, she felt warmth pool in her cheeks and a light shade of pink washed over her face. ”Right. I’m sorry.” she started off with, glancing to the side, a little too embarrassed to make eye contact again right at that moment.

”My name’s Tsubaki. I am from the Taighana family, who are residents here, in Toroa. We will be attending the ball with me as one of the representatives of the Taighana family and you will pose as my companion… that is, as soon as you tell me in what sort of a relationship you would feel comfortable with me?” She had managed to look at him while introducing herself. After the pause, she did avert her gaze once more. If one would ask why, the answer was simple – it was a bit embarrassing to ask the question. At least, she felt embarrassed. For a moment she figured it must’ve sounded weird. Then, at the back of her mind, thoughts of getting laughed at for asking popped up. Also, what if this person would want to enter the scene as a staff-member? Perhaps, it was right for her to feel ashamed.

Soon she cleared her throat, straightened her posture and attempted to respond to the other question. ”Well, if you mean the bird, you can find some of them in garden areas but at this time of year, if not mistaken, the common blackbird resides in the forested parts of the island… Or if it is a way of you asking where one can have a good time, I’d say almost everywhere outside of the very core of the city center.” She was still not entirely certain on what he meant by it. They just met. Little bugs in communication were a part of the process, she guessed.

[❰ Misha ❱]

Post
"Blackbird" Emile Reivelt

"An Angel...."

The flirtation was as unexpected as the fact that she kept her tone formal at the same time. For a mere moment, he was a little transfixed and caught off guard. One second he was comfortable and relaxed, the next he honestly was a little wide-eyed. Being called an angel was something new, not that he hadn't already been in a bit of a playful mood before the girl had swept him off his feet. His left index finger slipped over his bottom lip and he smiled coyly, a lighthearted chuckle breaking through the small of his chuckle.

Just as certain, Emile leaned closer to the girl tracing her eyes glancing to the side. He immediately recognized the embarrassment that was clearly on her face, noting the loss of the eye contact that had been so intimate between them. When he also took a second to glance out the side of his peripheral vision, Emile spotted two people across the plaza who seemed to have broken from their own conversation to spare them a passing glance and were seemingly doing a little gossiping.

"My name’s Tsubaki. I am from the Taighana family, who are residents here, in Toroa. We will be attending the ball with me as one of the representatives of the Taighana family and you will pose as my companion… that is, as soon as you tell me in what sort of a relationship you would feel comfortable with me?"

The finger he had kept over his lip dropped steadily to cup his chin, his expression calm and composed even as the devilish side of him had slowly come up with the perfect way to respond to that. He felt a slight blush enter into his cheeks from his own shyness, but it was a controlled blush that didn't own him. Out to the side, he checked through the edge of his vision to see the pair who were still eyeing them from afar and whispering between themselves. Inside, Emile couldn't help feeling a bit more confident at seeing that and imagining just how intriguing this island could be. He may not get to see the whole of the place, but he already found the high culture society too tempting.

Tsubaki immediately straightened up afterwards, recovering some of her poise before clearing her throat and answering his other question. Her noble attempt to answer his query was respectable, but she had let slip the perfect opening for him. Emile's face split into an smirking grin before leaning in so he was by her left ear over her shoulder and whispered in a loving tone, "Hehe, And I'd love to have a good time." he remarked jokingly where no one else would hear him and checking eagerly for the reaction he would get.

"There are two nobles looking at us though from across the plaza. If you're comfortable with us being dates, act natural." Quickly, Emile playfully kissed the nape of her neck. Knowing that it was possible to embarrass the girl even further, his right hand moved to cup her chin and turn her head towards him before moving to meet her lips with his own. For a moment, Emile tried to keep his eyes closed though only cracked them once for a second to glance at the couple of onlookers. There was giggling and a few wry smiles, but after only a few closed seconds they vanished behind the farthest building.

He broke away after he was certain the message had been made clear. Emile's face itself was crimson in color, but he was happily beaming. Removing his fingers from her face, Emile got off the bench and stood up fully, "Apologies for acting hasty, but I couldn't resist the temptation. Now than.. He licked his lips, savoring the new sensation of her lips over his tongue. He re-assumed a more regal posture, bowing his head a little before Tsubaki and took the initiative by reaching out a proffered hand.

"We don't have all day, but we have enough time for you to give me a good tour around the town and show me a little bit of the culture here. If we hurry, I can do most of the things here before today is up. That should be plenty to do before the ball begins." he said with a cheerful smile. There was plenty of things he wanted to do and now that he assumed the gossip would quickly spread around town, things over the next day were certain to be interesting at that.

Having them masquerade as dates was probably for the best, hoping that the little display would help keep their cover secure. Emile thought for a moment as his left index and ring finger stretched downward rigidly at his side.

"Speech Here"

3
Note: If you want anything to be changed, I will do it. I thought it would be appropriate to ham this post up a bit more.

[odango]

Tsubaki did not pull away after his first motion to lean in and shorten the distance between them. She just assumed he was amused by her. It was not an outrageous thought. However, her hands did pull back a little from her shoulders tensing up. Not quite certain of his intentions, the hazel eyed Petty Officer could only speculate on a very long list of outcomes. While she could have knocked the possibilities down in number, the nineteen year old was a little too distracted by the quickening of her heartbeat.

Soon, after the young marine had somewhat regained complete clarity of her mind, he took the chance to push her back down to a place where the thumping of her heart defied most reasonable thoughts. His words did make the brown haired woman feel is if he was teasing her. Nonetheless, the fact he was so close made her feel the hair at the back of her neck were standing up. Her heart fluttered once again and for a slight moment she thought it would soon take the form of a bird and treat her torso like an unwanted cage.

"W-well... I'm glad you're not a stick in the mud, then." He would notice how flustered she was by then and that was the best response she could offer. The situation was much different from any other physical encounter for some reason. Tsubaki had no problem giving hugs, for example. She liked hugs, actually. This just made her feel bare in a way she could not describe.

*OK, calm down. Obviously he likes to play around. I can get used to this. It's a mission. But really! Is this necessary? Then again, nothing happened. Perhaps I'm now a pervert for thinking something is supposed to happen? I get to learn something new about myself everyday, I guess. A musician, a marine officer, a pervert. Yes, I think that would look great on a memorial plate on my grave... after I die from the shame I feel after I have to look him in the eyes again and my face will repeatedly swap between fifty shades of red from my corrupt mind and the really bad comeback.*

Needless to say, she was a little nervous. That being told, she was not fifty shades of red, just held a ripe blush of pink on her cheeks. Desperately trying get her shoulders back to a relaxed state and calming her mind, she couldn't help but note a scent of hers which had still not worn off. Her whole being was laced with the scent of lavender from earlier that day, when she had gotten ready. The reason she had even put it on was not for others. It just so happened she quite enjoyed it herself. This was good. This could be the one thing she could focus on to take her mind off Emile's actions.

*Huh? Which ones?* was the first thing she thought, about to take a glance around. Honestly, she had skipped a few words of his but the last two did catch her attention. Tsubaki was about to ask him to repeat that last part but got sidetracked by a brief, warm sensation on her neck, which tickled and sent a peculiar jolt down her spine. She had not been ready for that and had no idea how to act. A small part of her mind expected her body to leap away but was betrayed. Instead, her fingers even curled up, mimicking the action they made when she was holding a cup of her favorite tea. What happened next was even more surprising. Taken off guard, she could only bare witness to Emile robbing her of a kiss. Instinctively, she took a short inhale right before their lips made contact and her eyelids fell shut, lowering the curtains of lashes over the hazel orbs.

The action had made her a bit dizzy. It was not often when she was pushed out of her comfort zone in such a way. Relying on the fact she knew what a hopeless romantic she was, Tsubaki did ponder the thought of this being a dream. Yes, perhaps she was still sleeping? It was still before the mission and she was just playing out weird scenarios in her dream. In her defense, most first encounters did not play out like this.

She could feel a warm and soft sensation. Her heart was racing so fast she thought it might leap out at some point. They were so close she was hesitant to sneak in a deeper breath, for some odd reason. A variety of thoughts rushed through her head. Starting with questions of if this was really real and ending with a countdown of what she had eaten that day.

*This does work for a cover...* Those words were one of the highlights within the pool of thoughts and she could feel herself relax. The tension seemed to evaporate from her being and, while she wouldn't dare say it out loud at the time, the feeling was nice. She could feel an comfortable and uplifting sensation in her very core.

The noble felt the change of temperature on her lips as her pulled away. Lifting her lids to look at him, she couldn't help but instantly mirror the color of his face. She pulled back a bit and her left hand reached up to her lips as soon as he withdrew his hands. She barely touched them, as if to make sure it really happened. Admittedly, to her it felt as if he had left a mark on her lips - as if she would feel his presence there for some time.

He apologized but then proceeded to lick his lips and if she was red before, the girl's face could have just turned to the shade of the sun. She took a sharp, soundless inhale and glanced to the side,counting to ten in her head and with a goal of steady her breathing. *Now, why would he even-?*

The Petty Officer looked like she was starting to calm down once again. Swallowing a non-existent lump in her throat, she proceeded to speak. "Right. Being a couple would be the safest route to go, so I guess it's fine." One might think her words very reasonable but her more quiet, humble in expression tone gave away the fact she was still getting herself together.

He reached out a hand to her and what Emile said next did help get her to function again. He was correct. There shouldn't be more time to waste.

Blooming into a smile again, she took his hand and got up. Right. If they were to see anything and also be in time for a meal with her family, they would have to get a move on. One thing she had gotten to consider was that Emile might have felt something similar she did. How were they supposed to maintain a cover if she didn't put some effort in it as well?

Picking up the bag standing next to the bench, she took the couple first steps forward. "Very well. First I'll take you to see where the ball will be taking place. After that you have to see the Garden of Minds and the Academy of Arts... You still have to pick a specialty." she trailed off with the last part, but did continue to walk. Their intended course would be down a small, shop filled street until they reach a square filled with fountains and then they'd at least be able to see a corner of a sizeable, Victorian-era-resembling castle like structure stealing attention from all the other buildings.

[❰ Misha ❱]

Post
"Blackbird" Emile Reivelt

"Eahehehe!" he chuckled merrily upon seeing the reaction and blend of stark red plastered over the young girl's face. He courted her by the hand, giving a very smug smile to a few people who passed by. Truth was that he had the instinct to shirk away in these situations, but in this case he was happy to play along with the theatrics of the nobility. Everyone was sure to love a little juicy gossip and it would distract a little from the probing questions he was likely to get. Playing along with it though was also going to be a very thrilling experience as well, particularly because of the fact he had no experience with this kind of thing.

He gazed abroad while hand-in-hand with Tsubaki. Distractedly, his lips still had the same peculiar aromatic taste on them from the kiss that he was oddly unable to completely identify. It was soft and fragrant as well as a little fruity in his opinion, traipsing its path over the edges of his tongue tenderly. What was it? Violet? Lavender? Possibly Limoncello? He mentally mused a little bit as they strode down the path, caught up in the idea for just the moment. The two of them made their way down the opposite lane, Emile keeping pace with the young noble while displaying his enthusiasm and confidence with a smile and smooth stride. The area was for small shops mostly, but Emile couldn't help but gently admire some of the decor the townsfolk were putting up for the occasion and some of the architecture.

His flare for the somewhat gaudy and opulent decorations was happily indulged in a few places. Some of the shop owners flanking the sides liked gold he could tell and some were a bit more subtle with their designing, using seasonal colors or those that matched a certain theme. Some liked a deep, royal purple for the ball and the rest was just left up to his imagination. In the main district where the centerpiece of the attraction would be taking place were several preparations for the festivities, among them was no small abundance of food and barrels of drink.

Internally, he was still quite a bit nervous from the proximity he kept with Tsubaki. It was the first time he had gone on any such outing with a girl after all and for this mission he wanted to appear in control of himself. The fact that this may indeed spur rumors and questions sent a chilling sensation of goosebumps riding up his spine and permeating his upper body like wildfire spreading throughout a forest. He felt his joints and muscles tense and breath caught up in his throat. In exactly the same moment, there was an intrinsic warmth in his stomach, the occasional butterflies, and overwhelming excitement. His energy was running on high, but he fought to contain and channel himself to stay focused. As much as he tried, he really had to do a lot to remember everything he had read. For someone like him who had never been very proper in manner, he was thinking entirely on what he should do next.

"Will she give me a cue on what we should do next? We're a couple so we should both act like it, but I don't want to try too hard and do anything to upset her. I have to play this cool. Stay calm Emile, we just need to keep up appearances. Keep your head straight on your shoulders, stay engaged, and don't try to force something else on her! Don't squeeze her hand too tightly either! That kiss was already way too bold for you! "

That last one though was something he argued with himself over. He had kissed Tsubaki on sheer impulse and the want for excitement. His inner monologue was cut short when they entered into view of the main castle. In the stretch of a single moment, the castle indeed dominated the spotlight. It was gigantic and impressive by itself from only just the corner itself. He gazed from the square with several stone fountains placed at the center, still taking in the full breadth of his surroundings. "Amazing... I'd be interested to see it at nighttime during the Winter months when the snowfall is ripe! I can imagine stars reflecting off the sleet. It must be almost be pure white!" he mused aloud, unable to hide the excited tone in his voice.

Something else occurred to him as he pulled back; they would be dancing together in that place. Their mission was to stop the supposed thieves from achieving their objective, but they would also need to be the perfect couple for this event and that probably meant dancing. He himself didn't mind dancing at all in front of an audience, but he also had to wonder if Tsubaki knew how to dance. He was musing a little bit, but he decided it might be best for him to also get a complete idea of what was about to go down.

"Tsubaki-chan, do you know the schedule for this ball? Will the nobles make any sort of big commencement speech? That probably may be... the best 'opportunity' for us." he said, speaking with a suggestive tone in hopes that his partner would get his meaning. They would soon be hurrying on to the Garden of Minds or the Academy and he was all the more excited for them too.

"Speech Here"

4

[odango]

There was still a subtle tint of red gracing her cheeks, blooming more in color every time she got the thought of looking at Emile. While she did understand what had happened and why it had happened, the brunette knew it would still take her a few minutes to get used to it. Actually, it might take more than a few minutes. If she had known of an occurrence such as this beforehand, the young soldier could have better prepared her mind. Then again, perhaps a genuine reaction would inspire more believers of their story.

"I wa-" Tsubaki's first attempt to speak went fruitless because she noticed her own voice was trembling - together with what felt like her soul - when she tried to tell him something. At that point in time, they were still making their way to the ball's location. She was luckily just an inch or so in front of him, so the hazel eyed teen could tell herself she was fine. For a moment, the adaption of a child-like logic seemed favorable. Being the kind of person, who would act greatly when aiding others, but when encountered with her own problems, chose to either avoid them by fleeing or locking them up inside, Tsubaki quite liked the idea of still holding on to Emile but not having to look him in the eye. In a way, it felt like standing on the edge of a cliff. The girl just had to jump or, at least, convince herself she had jumped. More importantly, she had convince everybody else that she had jumped.

Once again swallowing an imagined ball in her throat, the hazel eyed nineteen year old gave her second shot at speaking out again, her hand just slightly twitching in his, while the other gripped the handle of her bag quite hard. "Just so you know, I'm very nervous, so my hand will start to sweat at some point." There it was, she gave him a fair warning. It was better that he knew what was going to happen, not suffered through, once it happened, out of being polite.

When making their way to the grandiose looking structure in which their targeted ball would take place, the noble couldn't help but start paying more attention to the surroundings. She picked up bits of the chatter, her hazel hues met with curious glances in return here and there. After the time with Marines, Tsubaki could honestly say that she had forgotten how alive the city could be. There was nothing out of the ordinary there. That was exactly the point. By every passing moment, the brown haired young woman was wrapped by a new wave of familiarity. It was a warm feeling. The frail skinned soldier couldn't help but feel her body finally relax more. Of course, she was not too fond of what range of emotions would fill her mind and body once she got home. It was better to enjoy the detour, while she still could.

They got their first destination and stopped. Tsubaki sat her bag down for a moment and also took the chance to admire the building. To her the sight was not as surprisingly beautiful than Emile, so she couldn't help but let out a chuckle. Such a genuine reaction.

"You are right. It does look impressive under a blanket of snow. Sadly, we do not get a lot of it during winter seasons..." she added, not knowing if the piece of information would be valuable but feeling that small-talk would be a healthy addition to the pair of them. They still had to learn details about one another, and they still had to cover the basic answers to questions, which would get asked by anyone curious enough.

"Ah yes, it would make sense for you to ask that." The girl began, taking a little while to plan out how to introduce the order and more importantly - scold herself for finding the word "opportunity" misleading for some reason. The heat in her face returned for just a moment. *What am I? Twelve years old?*

"There will be a speech. We will all arrive and be announced. Everyone knows everyone, but such grand entrances are a tradition. Then the host will give a speech and it is also now a tradition to watch short play, which has been chosen from various contestants to represent the symbolic meaning of becoming a "free" island. After that everyone will indulge in chatter and dancing. So you see, there will be plenty of.... chances." It would be correct to assume she had avoided the word "opportunity". Sometimes, the girl disliked her own mind.

"Alright, let's get going. There is more to see." After picking up her bag once again, she tugged on his hand until he was ready to go. These actions also might seem a little childish of her... but she was feeling more relaxed around him, as time passed. She could now look at him, without turning completely red, so progress had been made.

"I'll let you in on a secret. The next place is my favorite place in this entire town. So, in case someone asks, you know." The last sentence was added in a lighthearted way, in no way laughing about the situation the both were putting themselves in.

"We will be walking for about fifteen minutes. There are about ten blocks left and then you'll be able to see a big park that is filled with human-sized statues. In the meantime, Emile, I suggest you tell me everything about yourself." A light laugh escaped her lips. There was no way she expected everything from him but she assumed that he understood. Also, there was this weird rush she felt - similar to feeling butterflies in her stomach. Right. She hadn't once said this person's name yet out loud. As far as names meant, his was indeed quite pleasing to the ears.

*I shouldn't worry. This nervousness will subside until tomorrow, I think.*

[❰ Misha ❱]

Post
"Blackbird" Emile Reivelt

A coy, playful smirk graced his features as Tsubaki voice quipped and faltered for a moment. A splash of red around her cheeks, Emile didn't need to be told that she was nervous. Each step he took compounded his unease, but his fascination was now partially overriding his oblique shyness that took place among larger crowds. He'd never officially kissed a woman out in public in the most expressive way so as to attract attention, but a part of that actually excited him. The idea of a playing the drama thrilled his imagination and so he was eager to play. His open hand twisted a little bit and he had to gulp quietly in order to suppress himself for the moment.

"It's alright... I'm a little uneasy myself." he paused for a moment, the building dryness in his throat suffusing his voice at a critical point, preventing him from really saying much else. He was the one being guided by her so it was best if he appeared cultured and respectable in order to maintain their ruse among the nobles, but he was feeling so loose and happy to be in such a place. The places were grand and left him to imagine the differing seasons and decorations to be put in place.

Through Tsubaki's hand, he felt the calm radiate and her demeanor relax quite a bit. There was slightly less twitching in her grip and he was also able to keep his light without seeming like he was going to squeeze her hand. He began to feel a bit of a compulsion to twist his fingers though, an urge he resisted if not for the bit of stretching in his index finger. He started to feel a bit more comfortable when she was calm and not as red as a cherry and the mood seemed a bit less tense between them. Everybody seemed happy and Emile was more intent on getting the lay of the land while still enjoying himself.

"Hmmm" he hummed with a curt little smile. After listening to her response to his inquiry, Emile came up with the impression that the ball would allot plenty of opportunities for the thieves to get in if they were going to mount anything during the main festivities. It was bound to be a huge hall so he and Tsubaki were not going to have it easy without blowing their cover. He as well didn't have his armaments present so he would be relying on pure skill and ingenuity to get him through this mission. For the first time, he realized that his legs and arms were more than a little stiff and making harder for him to make himself seem natural.

His finger brushed his lips and cheeks, reflecting a growing amount of red and heat that he hadn't noticed was there. For a second, he thought of him and Tsubaki dancing together and that actually took up a bit of his mind for a few seconds whereby he couldn't help the frantic blush. Emile idly bit his tongue as Tsubaki tugged at his hand and he was back to walking together with her down the next lane and ready to head to the second point of interest.

"Lead the way and I'll happily follow." he chimed in happily, eyes meeting Tsubaki's orbs and surprisingly capable now of at least not focusing on his own enjoyment and not their fluctuating composure. The trip seemingly was going to take a bit and they would need to hurry, but Emile was pleasantly surprised that Tsubaki asked to get to know him as they walked. Immediately, he was beset with a few thoughts of a more romantic nature at the suggestion.

"Well umm... I can dance. I'm not sure if I'd pass for a good singer, but I have experience performing." he tried not to sound suspicious, but he was racking his brain for anything that might be of substance to their mission. If any questions were to come up, they would need to be careful not to actually trip over each other's answers or otherwise blow their cover.

*What could she want to know?* his brain searched rapidly for something else that he could talk about, "I was born in Nocturnia... though you may not have heard of that place. It's not really easy to reach, but it is in the Grand Line though."

Perhaps in an effort to keep the conversation open, Emile returned and decided to ask his own question. His feet continued their generous tap over the sun-heated cobblestone, "What is something that you like Tsubaki-chan?"

"Speech Here"

5